The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan plan—the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act—to help put Oregonians back to work by reforming our nation’s outdated workforce development system. U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River) strongly supported passage of this plan.
“Employers, workers, and job training advocates in Oregon—most recently at Rogue Valley Microdevices in Medford—have told me that the current workforce development system is a confusing maze of programs. It’s outdated, inefficient, and not accountable to the taxpayers,” Walden said.
“This bipartisan legislation will reform and improve workforce training programs so Oregonians can obtain the skills they need to go back to work. It eliminates fifteen duplicative programs, reducing administrative costs and unnecessary bureaucracy. Local boards are empowered to tailor services to their region’s employment and workforce needs. And the bill promotes skills training for 21st century jobs, fostering a modern workforce that Oregon businesses rely on to compete. It’s a win for taxpayers, job seekers, and employers,” Walden continued.
In May, Walden met with the Rogue Workforce Partnership and toured Rogue Valley Microdevices in Medford. They discussed the need to strengthen and improve workforce training programs, along the lines of what this plan accomplishes, and their leaders praised passage of the plan.
A Central Oregon leader in workforce development also praised passage of the bill. “The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act will help streamline workforce development funding and programs, providing a better coordination of services as well as reaching more out of work Oregonians. It also provides the critical flexibility for state and regional boards to better meet the needs of the local community.
As both an employer and a member of a workforce development board, I appreciate Rep. Walden supporting this important this legislation to put more Oregonians to work,” said Trygve Bolken, member of the Oregon Workforce Investment Board and Human Resources Manager for Bend Research.
The Senate overwhelmingly passed the bill in late June. It now heads to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law in the coming days.
